The Talk

 

The talk we had is etched in me forever and a day

When others would listen for a minute but then walk away

The pain and tears were buried deep inside my soul

A darkened room with a bottle of scotch was the only place to go

 

Many ghosts that haunted my nights with stories from afar

While eating dirt and drinking mud only added to the bizarre

A cavernous space was everywhere for me to fight alone

Staring down the barrel of my 45 birthstone

 

You listened without judgment and never used your phone

Eyes and ears attuned to me while I continued to drone

All I heard were words of support and a feeling of understanding

Treated me like a son and guiding me to a soft landing

 

Those talking days saved me like nothing else could

Just like a simple game of chess and a cool fall day would

A stranger who showed me what a real dad was like

Who erased all my bitterness, anger and dislike

 

I tackled my classes and conquered a degree

Because you convinced me I could and I agree

A new career, a new life and my head high

But with all great things, comes the inevitable sigh

 

Some say you were laughing and others not so much

Enjoying every moment and every bit and such

Gone in a blink and without even a plea

Heard by his family or friends or me

 

So I thank you for being there when I needed you most

For showing me a path out of my painful past post

I will continue your teachings and pass it on

And treasure all of our talks especially with you gone

 

Chapters

 

I believe that life is divided into 4 chapters. The first chapter is from birth to 20 years of age where you learn most of your life from your parents. The second chapter is from 20-40 where you’ve acquired just enough knowledge to think you know everything. The third chapter is from 40-60 where you realize that your parents knew more than you gave them credit for but you wish they were still around to tell them. The last chapter is from 60 to the end of the story where you understand how short life is and you want to enjoy and celebrate each moment regardless of how trivial it might be.

I am now in the fourth chapter and it’s time  to tackle another milestone. I started working like most people at age 15 and 50 years later I am facing the bitter-sweet reality of retirement. On one hand, I am looking forward to playing more golf, waking up a little later and overall reducing my worry load. But with this new found free time comes with the reality of no longer feeling like a part of a team. My wife is my family which will always mean more to me than a team, but that feeling of accomplishment that work sometimes provides can offer something positive to look forward to on occasion.

In the US, we treat our elderly like an inconvenience or even worse as invisible. I am not sure how I will face each day from now on, but I will try not to lose my optimism, hope and sense of humor. I never want to be one of those bitter people always regretting the choices they’ve made. So I will walk through my retirement door with my head high, a good attitude and share it with everyone I love.

Check Box

 Hiding in plain sight, the moment is here

It seems hard to find but it's quite clear

They don't see it because it isn't checked

And placed in the box of their lives that is wrecked

They spend all their days planning ahead

And abusing the time that's divided and spread

Dedicated and focused on accomplishing a chore

Attacking the task but there is always more

Resting isn't an option when there are things to do

Can't move on, sing a song or play with you

Everything's urgent no matter the cost

For love, life and all else are tossed

Experience the breath of people and things

Without the noose of life's nagging strings

Devote only part time for those to mark

Leaving precious hours for that special spark

So ease on the pressure of always being right

And embrace the warmth of a summer night

Because time is short and can't go on

So enjoy every moment before they are gone

V is for Veteran

They joined to serve and so much more

Giving back to those who stood before

To better their lives and standing proud

Honor and duty, shouting out loud

They did what was told, no matter the cost

With all the stress, they never got lost

Following orders, always a team

Rising to the top, just like cream

Brothers and sisters, forever linked

In harms way, they never blinked

Marching in step, head held high

Squads and troops all unify

So on this day give them your thanks

Who put on the uni and worked in the ranks

And surrendered their years for the family they love

For you and me and God above

Right Reasons

They charged ahead although they were scared

There is nothing I know that can be compared

Their brothers and sisters felt the heat of the fight

The battles that continued long into the night



We honor this day without feeling the why

With grilling and sports to celebrate the high

While Gold Star families mourn the brave

And stand at attention for Old Glory's wave



So remember this day for all the right reasons

And not a holiday to celebrate the seasons

Or a chance for us to sleep til noon

But to honor those who left us too soon

Unseen

Deep in the park, under the trees

Hiding from view, they crouch on their knees

Dirty and worn, so skinny and sick

Hair matted and greasy, so tangled and thick

All drive by, avoiding their gaze

Occasionally donating on special days

Thousands of stories brought them to this place

But no one listens and stares off to space

Veterans and addicts and those down on their luck

No longer trying because their life is stuck

Reliving the days that dragged them here

Fighting for scraps in spite of the fear

Unseen they are by the fortunate ones

Who whine and complain and bang on their drums

Who think they have it so hard and so bad

But nothing compared to the permanently sad

So the next time you drive or walk by the crowd

Watching them tired with heads lowely bowed

Remember that once they were just like you

That they deserve respect and sympathy too

No Matter How

 I'm lost in a gaze but can't be seen

Illuminated haze that's not so keen

Arms stretched far to feel the way through

No matter how I strain, I can't see you

Tender songs that I don't hear

The melodic tone that falls to the rear

I cradle my ears to cling to what's true

No matter how I listen, I can't hear you

Sweetness her breath I just can't smell

Bland aroma makes it hard to tell

Roses and perfumes never break through

No matter how I inhale, I can't breathe you

Velvet petals are numb to the touch

Each finger stretches but not too much

Soft and supple is the skin so new

No matter how I touch, I can't feel you

Radiant smile and eyes that invite

Softly motions like angelic sprite

All my senses have become askew

No matter how I dream, I can't have you

Shoeless Pain

We don't know what it's like to be in their shoes

Or how much life they stand to lose

We really don't know the pain that they felt

Or understand the reasons on why they knelt

We don't get it, we're in our bubble

Deflecting blame for all the trouble

Focusing on the looters and not the speech

Missing opportunities for us to teach

Maybe the preachers were right all along

Trust in God to make everyone strong

Get to know your neighbor without a good reason

For the act of love is never out of season

So take a deep breath and gather your wits

Suppress all the hate and don't call it quits

Remember the lessons our parents had shared

And remove all reason for us to be scared

Fade to Black

The room is dark with streams of light
Slumped in the corner without delight
His shirt is stained with bile of pain
Faces the trial of a convicted reign


Crawls to bed but knows not why
The loss has taken his reason to cry
Struggles to face the lined up days
Engulfed in a crowd but alone he stays


Saws away at the house blown down
The water rises as he starts to drown
Empty is the space they shared as own
Now she's gone and he's left alone


Slowly he stands to take the next
Pulled on up it says in text
Morning shines as he wears his shades
The grief subsides but never fades


On he moves and plans the phase
Washes away the tattooed haze
Smiles inside and stands straight up
Takes a sip from the half full cup

Unpretty

I wish I could tie you up in my shoes

Make you feel unpretty too

I was told I was beautiful

But what does that mean to you?

Look into the mirror, who's inside there

The one with the long hair

Same old me again today, yeah

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I try different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up

That M.A.C. can make, but if

You can't look inside you

Find out who am I to

Be in the position that make me feel

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Never insecure until I met you

Now I'm bein' stupid

I used to be so cute to me

Just a little bit skinny

Why do I look to all these things

To keep you happy

Maybe get rid of you

And then I'll get back to me, yeah

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I try different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

Can't believe I'm trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up

That M.A.C. can make, but if

You can't look inside you

Find out who am I to

Be in the position that make me feel

So damn unpretty

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I try different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up

That M.A.C. can make, but if

You can't look inside you

Find out who am I to

Be in the position that make me feel

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Never insecure until I met you

Now I'm bein' stupid

I used to be so cute to me

Just a little bit skinny

Why do I look to all these things

To keep you happy

Maybe get rid of you

And then I'll get back to me, yeah

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I try different ways

But it's all the same

At the end of the day

I have myself to blame

Can't believe I'm trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up

That M.A.C. can make, but if

You can't look inside you

Find out who am I to

Be in the position that make me feel

So damn unpretty

TLC

Heartaway

If I thought about it for a short time
I could come up with a reason to believe
That you and I would take that climb
To the heights that I couldn’t conceive


We could step out in the cool autumn night
And glide through the blanket of breezes
I would embrace your soul with all my might
And give you all that I have that pleases


Let’s set sail away upon the seas of life
Head straight into the wind and hang on tight
Cut through the waves like a sharpened knife
And keep on going deep into the night


Or jump aboard my black iron horse
Strap on our bonnets and put on our shades
Fill up the tank and plot a new course
Follow that road until all fear fades


Maybe take a ride on sleek golden jet
That takes us away to places unknown
Flying high above all the regret
Enjoying the play the clouds have shown


So let’s pack a bag and make the plans
For a trip that will take years and years
You’ll have all of me and these two hands
To cradle your heart so the bad disappears

Dreamless Sprite

Jumped on the wind and hitched a ride
Miles of meadows that I took in stride
Gliding past rivers and mountains galore
Floating up high as I strain to explore

Soaring in the clouds while scanning below
I noticed a strange but unique road show
My point of view was distorted at first
So I dove and raced to quench my thirst

I Landed softly and crept along
Secretly hoping that I wasn’t wrong
Sneaking among those without being seen
Suddenly trapped in her glance so serene

Dizzy at first, I was stunned by my host
Crystal eyes, half woman half ghost
She opened her tent and led me inside
Removed all reason for me to hide

She sat far off but stared intently
And then touched my arm ever so gently
Speechless I was for the very first time
Feeling almost guilty of a shameful crime

She rubbed my neck and I started to faint
An incredible feeling with no complaint
The room started spinning and then went dark
I woke up later from the light of a spark

I saw her fade with a wink and a smile
Dressed in silk with class and style
She whispered good bye and then disappeared
Gone for good, is what I feared


But every night when I am tired
I race to bed no matter how wired
In my dreams I’m looking to see
The mystical woman waiting for me

Moth and the Light

The storm is to blame for the price going up
Although no fault of its own
We stand around and point at the chump
Only to bitch and moan

He waves Old Glory in our face
And fingers us unpatriotic
But the money pours out at an alarming pace
While the world keeps spinning chaotic

All of the children go marching to war
Without a letter that says greetings
While the conductors of greed direct from afar
Pontificating time in meetings

Never thought in a million years
That I would see such pilfering supported
While we all accept the lies and the fears
Of the cowboy whose favor they courted

So as I watch it rise beyond sight
I can't help but wonder
Are we immature moths searching for the light
As the powers that be, loot and plunder

HBTY

Crystal teal flows in the light

Which emanates from your soul of sight

Flushed is the glow that rests on your cheeks

That brightens me up with a smile that speaks

Clever and kind all packed into one

While doing it right you’re never undone

You always take time for those in need

Never been a better friend indeed

I forever celebrate the moment we met

Utopic memories I shall never forget

I call my home where ever you are

Beside me forever even when you’re far

So I treasure the day on which you were born

Dedicated to you, so I’ve sworn

Pledging my love for all time and more

Happy Birthday to the one I adore

Greatest Generation

We watch the movies but have no clue
The heroic battles they fought through
We think of France like a destination
Ignorant of our grandparents dedication


On this day the 6th of June
The kids are out of school at noon
But the greatest teens of yesteryears
Crawled ashore with blood and tears


Most have passed, having given their all
Long before we started to crawl
So let's not forget their sacrifice
Because just for you, they paid the price

Rein on Reich

Lines them up and paints their arm
Say it's so they do no harm
Stokes the flames of fear and hate
Rein him in and not too late

Waves the flag and we all march
Down the street and through the arch
Fakes the truth and sells the lie
Squeeze us all and then comply

Rolling back the hands of time
Change our rights must be a crime
Make it great as if it's not
Remove the blemish on the spot

Where this leads I do not know
Ride the boat and nav the flow

Line them up and watch the strike

Before we blend into the Reich

Don't Know

Don’t know who I was, while trying hard to decide

During all those moments pretending to be more than just a lie

Don’t know what I was thinking all those days, wasting my time

Waiting for my dream to arrive after a long steep climb

Don’t know how I got to this place, walking on this long and bumpy road

So many miles I’ve covered creating blisters or so I’m told

Don’t know when I turned away which eventually blocked my view

Causing each choice to fail until the day that I met you

Don’t why it took me so long to get it all so right

I must have had to earn it all before I could see the light

Don’t know where I was before you walked into my life

But the best decision I ever made was to take you as my wife

Parry the Poison

The more I learn, the more I don’t

Drags me to the pit, but I won’t

Digging my heels and stops me cold

Birthing a nation, or so I’m told

Prime time takes us that much closer

To the pretenders who are the posers

The book gives us the right to choose

Regardless of the end, all of us lose

Avoid the light and use your own

Slaughter the bull and set the tone

The time has come but it’s already set

All the cash won’t change the bet

So brace yourself and strap on tight

Take all you have and shun the light

The ride speeds up and just hang on

Before your choice is all but gone

Dunnit

at exuberant youth i have to laugh
i already took that photograph
doing things you think are new
which, years ago, i used to do

i'm old enough to be your dad
but the newest trick, your latest fad
is something i have done before
yet you bring it freshness, and do it more

i grew my hair down to my waist
and if someone said "try this" i had a taste
bell bottom jeans with flared cuff
and tie dye t-shirts.psychedelic stuff

i used to wear a leather vest
with no shirt to show off my hairy chest
golden hoop earring in my left ear
(if you pierced the right one it was considered queer)

yep, we were rebels without a cause
we had our love ins, we had our flaws
sugar cubes laced with LSD 25
at smoked out concerts, puffin' live

i played in rock bands, drove a 69' Stang
and always tried the latest thang
i loved the ladies more than life
even made a couple of them my wife

i see the kids on the scene today
their attitudes, the music they play
sometimes they surprise me, i cannot lie
but when i become my parents...it's time to die

i know i reached the highest highs
lived my life in laughs and sighs
and you young folks, my heart..you've won it
but believe when i say....
been there and done it

Quin Overman ( I think)

Immigraine

I might as well chime in on the immigration issue since I have read enough horrible comments over the past few days from people who wish we were living in the days of the founding fathers, but would be hung for sedition based on their anti-government comments. It’s scary to read how many people are ready to take up arms against the Federal government because of their own policies or beliefs. They are truly under the delusion that they are carrying the torch of God to rid the country of evil starting with the President. I understand that there are multiple sides to this issue such as the President is enacting too many executive orders, people are circumventing the process and the rest I choose not to mention.

These comments accuse illegal immigrants of being a drain on the system, but there are more people born in this country abusing the system than are doing so illegally. These immigrants are hardworking people who perform all the jobs that are “beneath” the average American worker like picking produce, cleaning offices and other labor intensive work.

I don’t know if this order is allowed under the constitution or whether these people should continue with the process as is, but I do know that the boiling hatred that is commonplace in social media is sadly indicative of the wave of ultra-radicalism in this country. I have many friends who believe in a political party other than the one I follow and debate it responsibly. My wife and I do not always agree on the same issues, but her intentions are purely motivated by her love of this country and the hope that her party can improve it. It is not based on the pure intolerance and alarmingly dangerous rhetoric I have read online that makes me wonder where this country is headed as a Republic.